Robert Brindley looks at how Venice has captured the imagination of thousands of artists over the years and why his passion for painting it hasn’t dulled in more than 35 annual visits
Venice has been described as the most beautiful city in the world. Over many centuries it has attracted more painters than probably anywhere else in the world and artists return over and over again in search of inspiration. The city offers the artist a wide choice of subject matter, enhanced by the intensity of the light. The mood and atmosphere varies from season to season: the misty, early mornings of the late autumn and winter are wonderful, while the early spring, with its long sunny days and early morning mists creates spectacular effects. For much of the year the city is alive with tourists and the popular places to visit are uncomfortably busy at peak times. However, if you visit the city for several days and you are prepared to wander away from the busier areas, within a few minutes you will find numerous, quieter areas where you can settle down to paint.
Every part of the city, tourist hot spot or not, is just as beautiful and paintable. Don’t be afraid of getting lost, in fact do the opposite, get off the beaten track and discover the city for yourself. Gouache has become my preferred medium for small, plein-air studies as it is water soluble, extremely opaque, immediate and dries very quickly. I work with a limited palette and only the basic essentials, so everything goes in a very small shoulder bag making it easy for me to set up and paint very quickly.
